Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
05:31

Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles

Published on: January 26, 2024

908

Inflammasome activation in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction

Michal Silber1,2, Nadav Dekel1, Ishai Heusler1,2

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)
|August 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Inflammasome proteins NLRP7 and PYCARD are elevated in preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) placental tissues. This finding may lead to new biomarkers for predicting or monitoring PE and IUGR.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are major causes of perinatal complications, impacting 8%-10% of pregnancies.
  • Inflammasomes are implicated in the mechanisms of term and preterm labor.
  • Understanding inflammasome involvement in PE and IUGR is crucial for improving maternal and fetal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate inflammasome-dependent inflammation in placental tissue from pregnancies complicated by PE and IUGR.
  • To investigate the expression of specific inflammasome components (NLRP7 and PYCARD) in PE and IUGR placentas.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involving 14 women with PE, 15 with IUGR, and 19 with normal pregnancy (NP).
  • Collection of maternal blood, cord blood, and placental tissue.
  • Analysis of NLRP7 and PYCARD protein expression and localization via immunostaining.

Main Results:

  • NLRP7 and PYCARD protein expression were significantly higher in placental samples from PE and IUGR groups compared to the NP group.
  • Immunostaining showed upregulation of NLRP7 and PYCARD in syncytiotrophoblast, stroma, and endothelial cells of PE and IUGR placentas.
  • PYCARD serum levels were elevated in mothers with PE and IUGR, but no significant changes were found in neonatal cord blood.

Conclusions:

  • NLRP7 and PYCARD are key inflammatory proteins significantly elevated in PE and IUGR.
  • These proteins may serve as potential biomarkers for the prediction or progression monitoring of PE and IUGR.
  • Further research into the role of NLRP7 and PYCARD could lead to novel diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
NLRP7PYCARDintrauterine growth restrictionpreeclampsia

More Related Videos

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

3.8K
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

11.4K

Related Concept Videos

Hormonal Regulation01:33

Hormonal Regulation

The renin-aldosterone system is an endocrine system which guides the renal absorption of water and electrolytes, thus managing blood pressure and osmoregulation. Activation of the system begins in the kidneys with a small cluster of cells adjacent to the afferent and efferent blood vessels of the renal corpuscle. As the nephrons are filtering blood, juxtaglomerular cells monitor blood pressure. If they detect a decrease in pressure, they release the hormone renin into the bloodstream.
33.6K
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response01:31

Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response

Inositol-requiring kinase one or IRE1 is the most conserved eukaryotic unfolded protein response (UPR) receptor. It is a type I transmembrane protein kinase receptor with a distinctive site-specific RNase activity. As the binding mechanics of the misfolded proteins with the N-terminal domain of IRE-1 are unclear, three binding models — direct, indirect, and allosteric -- are proposed for receptor activation. Nevertheless, it is known that once a misfolded protein associates with IRE1, it...
2.6K
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
2.8K
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
3.9K
The Unfolded Protein Response01:37

The Unfolded Protein Response

The ER is the hub of protein synthesis in a cell. It has robust systems to quality control protein folding and also for degradation of terminally misfolded proteins. Under normal conditions, a small proportion of misfolded proteins that cannot be salvaged need to be transported to the cytoplasm by the ER-associated degradation or ERAD pathways. However, if the ERAD cannot handle the misfolded proteins, the cell activates the unfolded protein response or UPR to adjust the protein folding...
5.0K
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
2.7K